Man Arrested for Starting Spokane Wildfires | Panama City Beach News

A man suspected of igniting the devastating Old Trails wildfire in Spokane, Washington — one of three fires that destroyed over 850 homes and displaced tens of thousands — has been arrested. Aaron Farinacci, 37, faces five first-degree arson charges after allegedly planning multiple fires for weeks, even studying weather patterns to maximize their spread. He confessed to starting the blaze and others, claiming fire symbolized rebirth and used marijuana or cigarettes to justify having lighters. Investigators found he’d studied a notorious arsonist and built a time-delay device, choosing August 1st for the Old Trails fire to coincide with strong winds. Despite admitting he knew the fires would grow out of control, he claimed no intent to cause such destruction. His lawyer seeks a competency evaluation, and he’s jailed on a $2 million bond due to flight risk and danger to the public. Residents may not return home for weeks. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/d717a75d5c2664c5